News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-11-24

1t was thanksgiving Time. OueStS
had been invited, and there was every
thing to do. There had always been
just such times at the farmhouse ever
since Jane could remember; but she had
never assisted. She was the only daugh-
ter, and had been brought up in the use
less way that many of the only daughters
are brought up in, in the homes of far
mers, even, where mistaken mothers
often say:
"My girls shall have the easy times
that have missed in my life."
The next morning Aunt Hannah said
to Samantha, privately:
Don't you want to go home to
Thanksgiving, my good girl?"
eyes, ma am, the very worst way"
quickly said the faithful domestic. ''My
brothers folks have written for me, and
there's to be big family gathering; but
l can't 60"
| ''You shall go, and what's more you
shall sray two weeks" said Aunt Han
nah, resolutely, ''and your wages shall
| go on all the same. Say to Mrs. Harding
to night that you must go. Jane shall
do your work"
"Oh, she can't!"
''She can and she shall, " said Aunt
Hannah. II will put my shoulder to the
wheel. Don't you worry now; just give
out that you must go home this year"
So, just after the mail came in, Sa-
mantha said to her mistress:
81 want to go home to Thanksgiving
awfully."
you ought to CO." put in Aunt Han
nah. ''You shall 90 tomorrow, and be
gone a fortnight. l will pay your rail
road fare" "
''But what shall we do?" said Mrs.
Harding, looking really appalled,. 'It
is impossible to hire help at this season !;
and there's no time to look for any,
either"
81 am here, dear sister," said Aunt
Hannah-as if that covered all grounds
of objection land Jane shalt help. L
will hire her as my assistant, and pay her
three dollars week-and the work will
| do her good. "
Jane was not consulted; to be sure
but she did not dare rebel against good,
whole souled Aunt Hannah, who was a
person Of consequence in the family,
being childless widow with consid-
erable means at her own disposal. Sa-
mantha went, and Jane took her place.
''Oh. | am to Ee dish washer" said
l
toward the sink the morning of the hired
girls departure. '1ou know how to
wash dishes well enough, dare say, al
though there is a right way as well as a
wrong way to wash dishes, but you will
| learn by seeing me. | can wash dishes
and at the same time give directions
about the work you are to do. Now you
| will mix the bread first"
81 don't know how"
| ''Time you did, and I will tell you all
| about it, dear. Sister Harding, put the
| rooms to rights, make the beds, and see
to the milk; you are the second girl, re-
member Jane and | are the cooks. l
intend that on Thanksgiving Day every
article of food that goes on to the table
shall have been prepared by our Jane. y
Jane opened her eyes in unaccustomed
surprise, and her lips for wondering
speech But Aunt Hannah, with smiles
and good nature, talked so fast that the
young girl found no chance to reply.
.sYoua are an intelligent and pretty con
scientious girl, y went on the good aunt.
''you are as stong as many girls in your
position; your appetite is good, and you
are capable" Jane opened her lips
again, but Aunt Hannah reiterated
''you are young, capable and hearty. No
matter what station in life you may be
| called to fill, you want to know how to
| cook and how to do all kinds of house
work in the best way"
Aunt Hannah, who was very entertain
ing, and who knew great many people,
went on telling of this one and that one,
and gave Mrs AS rule for making
bread, and Mrs. BIS recipe for certain
kind of cake until Jane found that even
women of culture and wealth took charge
| of their own households.
When, that night, Farmer Harding
complimented his daughters first ginger
bread, she was agreeably surprised to find
| how much more real satisfaction there
was in making it than in rocking idly in
her chair, OF standing out under the will
| lows in the attitude of a heroine, with 0
handkerchief pressed to her dewy eyes.
Jane was often tired at first, OF course,
| but she persevered under Aunt Hannah's
| direction and treatment. Her mother
grew rested and young, and was told so
by her friends with whom she now had
time to visit
On Thanksgiving Day, when every
thing was being praised, Aunt Hannah
took great satisfaction in saying:
| NY PuPAi, ""hOy, plCP' Su C'NiJ > Ni'A
set before you"
II declare" said the Western uncle,
az declare, that's the way to bring up a
girl, be she merchants, lawyers, or a
farmers"
Before he left the old homestead he
gave a bountiful sum of money to his
brother with which TO refurnish and
paint the house, embellish the parlor,
build new front fence, and last, but
not least, to pay off an old mortgage on
the farm.
''Such a ca~able, industrious and
amiablo girl as aney, this uncle went
on, observes a house as fine as any in
the village She makes the old Harding
homestead pleasant pace to come to !;
and besides, she saTes her mother a great
deal of labor and trouble
So Jane Harding, instead of only read
ing about lovely, well-kept homes and
their Dresid ing angels. became the light
and stay of her own mothers household,
chiefly through Aunt Hannah's judiciOus
| instructions ns-AnHie 4. Preston.